Collet chuck



Dec. 13, 1949 c. E. DREW 2,491,167

COLLET CHUCK Filed March 19, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l BY, Mfg

Dec. 13, 1949 C; E'. DREW COLLET CHUCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 19, 1946 INVENTOR. Cha/'les re uf.

BY 737m Dec. 13, 1949 c. E. DREW 2,491,167

COLLET CHUCK Filed March 19, 1946 y 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Dec. 13, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLLET CHUCK y Charles E. Drew, Racine, Wis.

Application March 19, 1946, Serial No. 655,577

9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in collet chucks, structures designed for use with service elements such as bar-shaped tools, drill shanks, stock bars, or the like, and has particular relation to chucks of this type especially designed for use in a service Where a high degree of precision is desirable or essential.

The nature of collet chuck service is such as to present a number of important characteristics which must be met where eillcient service is desired-Where precision service is essential, the conditions are accentuated, and provision must be made to meet them with extreme care and accuracy. A few of the fundamental conditions are referred to briefly:

Since the collet is to provide a gripping relation to the service element with the chuck designed to transmit rotative movement to the element, in presence of the fact that the element must be insertible into the chuck and removable therefrom at will-in some services with great frequency-the collet must be capable of expanding and collapsing to receive and then grip the element, with the positioning and removal of the element made in simple fashion, with rapidity, and without materially disturbing the relationship of parts of the chuck. Hence, the chuck must rely upon friction for the power drive of the element, a condition which requires that the chuck be formed of a plurality of relatively movable members.

The service working Zone of the element must be as free as possible of any gyratory conditionsthe ideal is complete absence of gyration-to assure accuracy in the work to be performed; since the power is applied through a plurality of members by friction only, the ability to secure the minimum gyration is a major problem, due to the possibility of cooking of or more membersespecially of the collet-produced when the axis of the element is not accurately alined with the axis of the chuck, and may result from a number of different causes; where frequent change in the element is required, each change can develop the condition and thus disturb the ability to provide precision service.

Due to the large demand for collet chuck assemblies, these must generally be provided under quantity production conditions; since in production operations such as these tolerance dimensions are practically an inevitable requirement, the likelihood of cooking, faulty friction conditions, etc., are constantly present, thus leading to loss of precision effects; even screw-threaded connections can produce such effects. The ideal chuck assemblage needs therefore be so fashioned that accuracy in the positioning and non-gyrating action of the working zone of the service element should not be affected by differences due to tolerance conditions; to secure such result is extremely diicult, especially under quantity production conditions, and must depend upon the structure and arrangement of the parts of the assemblage to obtain even approximate results in this respect. V

Many developments in the field of collet chucks have been made and proposed, and some of these have been able to secure precision characteristics of a rather high order; in some forms the gyrations have been limited to approximately 0.0015

inch, while others have claimed a still lower variation from non-gyration; but such results, when present, are secured under the most favorable conditions and do not represent the normal conditions present when frequent change in the service element is necessary; generally, when such accuracy is present, other characteristics are less favorable due to the need for sacricing advantages in one direction to secure advantages in a dierent direction.

In assemblages having the precision characteristics, the assemblage is generally made up of the shank member which is directly driven from the power source, and presents the axis base on which the remaining members are to be assembled to provide the desired result; the collet, which is presented in different forms; a nose piece or its equivalent; and a locking nut which has a threaded connection with one or more of the other members, and which serves, by its threading movements, to causegenerally indirectlythe expansion and collapsing movements of the collet. These have been given various shapes and assembled in different co-operative relationships,

The present invention is of this latter type and utilizes the same general member assemblage, but the shapes of members have been varied and they are assembled to cooperate in a somewhat different relationship from such earlier developments, with the chan-ged formations designed to produce even more favorable solutions to the 4fundamental problems above referred to, as well as Ito other characteristics, than have been possible with the earlier developments, to thereby increase the efficiency of this type of assemblage; to Imake the production of the members in a more efficient manner; to increase the efciency of the assemplage, and to :provide a lcomparatively'low cost of manufacture.

'Ilo these land other ends, therefore, the nature of which will be understood as the invention is herein-after disclosed, said invention consists in the improved constructions and combinations 'of :parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly Ipointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference characters indicate similar parts in each of the views:

Figure 1 isa central longitudinal sectional view of one form of collet chuck according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is an exploded sectional view of the members of the chuck of Figure 1, -1 Y Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of 'a modified form of nose piece,

Figures 4 to 8 are respectively longitudinalsectional views of other modified forms of nose piece,

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of assemblage,

Figure 10 is a longitudinal sectional View, partly in elevation, of a still further modification, the

.view showing yan intermediate position of th parts in locking the chuck, y i, Figure 11 is an exploded sectional view of the chuck members shown in Figure 10, l .Y

Figure lla is a side elevation of the stressreliefring,and g y y ...3, y, l .Figure 1 2 is a fragmentary vie'wcf Figure 10, but with the members in fully locked.positions.l

Collet chucks of this general type. utilize a lcollet which is externally tapered. with thebody ,slotted and having a bore to receiyetheserViCe ,elementy the bore -beingofa dimensiontohelfmt .free `entrance of the element th e collet structure being in its normal or expanded state. atfgsuch time. To reduce the bore dimensions 'andlthere- ,.by provide gripping action onQthe element, a'colylapsing action is applied vto, the collet itself :bya tapered face carried by one of the other. members .of the chuck assembly with such yface externalof the collet tapered face and'gener'al1y'byrelative and cooperative movement of such tapered.. face' and the external tapered face ,0frthe;co1let, vwith the relative movement generally, 'but not always, in the direction of the axis of the bore.. Y In prior practice, and especially. withassemblies especially designed for'lprecisioneifects, the outer tapered face has generally `.been carriedby the shank member; many different.,v ariations .have been provided in assemblieslof type, `involving the direction of.relativemovementthe form of the tapered faces, etc,., ea'chof .thestruc- ,tures being designed to collapsethe'colletinto a `'.frictional gripping relation with th-elfserviceelemenlt by movement of a threadedactuating membergenerally carried bythe shank-this .mem- ,.ber movement under thethreadingaction being fi. designed to set up the relative movement kofthe tapered faces in such mannerV as to produce the collapsing action on the collet. i

While such arrangement would, theoretically, .'provide accurate alinement of the axles ofthe lchuck `and collet bore, due to the presence of the Qshank taper face as a part of the aliningstrucllture, such result is obtainable only,wliere the .collet and sh-ank have their.v critical dimensions and faces present with absolute accuracyvaria- Qtions therefrom directly affect the accuracy; since ,any inaccuracy is amplified by the fact that the @working zone of the service element. is.more or less remote from the zone in whichthe collet is .located even very slight variations can materially affect the precision of the assembly.:y Since, under quantity production .conditionaallowan'ce lImust be made for tolerances, the possibility of .obtaining absolute accuracy in. the vassembly is vslight, and under the most carefulworkmanship and selection of parts, only approximate accuracyistobe expected. ,1. The -prior art developmentsQincludeauxiliary measures for the purpose of reducing .the amount of inaccuracy, but, as previously referrdto, the

t the skirt zone 21 of the latter. s the bore diameter considerably increasedfas inother diflculties, due to the effort to obtain the laxial aliriement.-`

The present invention, while utilizing the skirt of the shank as a carrier for a control face, presents the taper face which zzo-operates with the collet taper face as not on the shank b-ut on the: nose-piece, the latter having a, skirt zone which-- serves as a wedging formation between the innerl face of the skirt of the shank and the taper facef of the collet, thus permitting the collet-receiving. portion of the skirt Zone of the shank to be formed. of uniform diameter and thus capablepf more: accurate machine production under quantity' production conditions. With the nose piece hav-- ing its skirt outer periphery also of unifornidi-- ameter, the nose piece member can advanca. under the action of the locknut, `into the space: between the collet taper face and the shanksk-J'rt face with a true linear movement (being.generallyl guided by the shank skirt face) and thuspermit; the opposing taper faces to co-operate to'collapse.` the collet.

The nose piece` may takev on anyone ..ofA a. number of dilerent forms. with each form pre senting the above fundamental vcondtions.tl`ie remaining members of the assembly bei'nglg'en erally similar with all of 4the forms, .5A number` of these variations are presented herein and ex plained in detail hereinafter.

In Figure l, which presents the members .ofthe present invention of collet chuck assembly in ,their assembled position withthe parts assumed tofbe in service element grippirigpositions,` the shank.' member is indicated at A, the collet at B, the nosepiece at C, and the locking ringor nut at D, this: general identification being presented in allof the gures of the drawings; in Figure 2thesef members are presented as individuals, the ,shank `being partially omitted, since the omitted portion is clearly shown in Figure l; Figure Zpresentslan exploded showing of the structures of Figure...1..

The shank A is shown as an elongated memberr ,having an axial bore 2d divided into a. plurality of zones. The zone 2|, located at an end of the bar, for instancethe bore inthis zoneybein'g shown as threaded as at.22 topermt securing to such source. The intermediate. Zoneof the shank, indicated at 23, has its borevof increased diameter, and includes an elongatedthreadfzone 24 designed to receive an externally-threaded gauging member 25, designed to provide foradjustment of the depth to which the. s erviceelement can be inserted Within the assemblynthe member 25 being suitably keried.. or otherwise fashioned to permit ready adjustmentofposition of the member through thefopen end of, this-portion or the bore when the parts. are disassembled; member 25 is especially advantageous where the service element is one which requires accurate positioning and frequent change, the member-assuring uniform depth of insertion. The exterior of this zone also includes the usual wrench flats or substitute formations forvvrench, Spanner-or like use in securing the shank in position, the position of this being indicated by the c lottedvline representation 26 Whichcanbe considered as one of the facets of such-formation', q-

The inner or opposite end of the shank forms This zone ,has

dicated in Figure 2, and forms the recess or Vbasin into which the collet B extends, the inner diameter of this zone being of larger diameter than thevgreatest diameter of the collet. As heretofore pointed out, the recess or basin is of uniform diameter, a condition which enables greater accuracy in machining in order to provide this wall-indicated at 21-as having its axis accurately alined, with that of the bore axis-as truly concentric with the bore axis as possible. An important additional feature of this recess or basin formation is its bottom portionthe annular Wall which is provided by the increase in bore diameter presented in this zone, this Wall being indicated at 28. This wall 28 is preferably planar, but may be slightly varied from such form, but when so varied, it must have one general characteristic-like the planar form it must be based upon a line which is accurately perpendicular to the line of the bore axis, since the closer the approach of this wall face to exact conformance to such characteristic the greater becomes the precision characteristic of the assemb-ly; the use of the planar form is of advantage under quantity production conditions due to greater accuracy in machining obtainable through the use of such form. The exterior of the skirt zone is threaded, as at 21a, to receive the locknut D, as presently explained.

The collet B has the general characteristics of collets of this type, but has certain variations therefrom. Its bore 29 is of a desired diameter, and its periphery is tapered generally from end to end, at at Si); the collet is slotted longitudinally, preferably from opposite ends, as at 3l, with the length of the slots such as to reach from one end toward and approach the opposite end-eight or more slots are preferably used. In the present invention the smaller tapered end of the collet forms the nose end, with the larger tapered end forming the base end, the end face 32 of the latter end relative to a line extending perpendicular to the collet bore axis and being designed to cooperate with face 28 of the shank; hence, face 32 is designed to be formed to mate with face 28- with both faces planar such mating is readily possible under quantity production due to the simpler machining operations. Since the length of the collet is considerable and its tapered form provides a considerable metal content at the larger diameter end, it is preferred to slightly increase the bore diameter within a small zone at such end, as at 33, thus decreasing the thickness of the metal at such end; however, the decrease does not materially decrease the radial thickness of the end so that face 32 and face 28, during service, present an annular mating relationship throughout an annular band zone of considerable width radially.

This latter condition is of importance due to the fact that such mating relation has a direct control in eliminating or preventing cooking of the collet through maintaining the axis of the collet in definite relation to the axis of the shank. With the assembly such as to present pressure on the collet in the direction of face 28, and with both faces 23 and 32 presenting an annular band of extended radial width and both based on the line accurately perpendicular to the axis of the shank, tightening of the assembly will cause the contact of the two faces to have the complete mating relation, thus assuring that the axis of the collet at both the nose and the base ends will have the desired definite and positive relation to the axis of the shank.

-And in the production of this result the fact that face 32 is carried by the larger diameter end of the collet is of direct and major importance since it increases the diameter of the area Within which effects, such as cooking for instance, may be detected by the face during locking of the assemblythe increased length of diameter amplifies the depth of the undesired variation at the periphery of the face, permitting earlier detection of the presence of the variation, as well as providing a longer leverage arm eiect active in correcting the variation. As a result the cocking effect, when present, even though slight, is detected as the locking action proceeds and correction forcibly made as the locking action continues, the final mating relation between faces 32 and 28 placing the collet axis in its definite relationship with the axis of the shank bore.

The nose piece C of Figures 1 and 2 is one of a number of forms of this member which may be employed in connection with the present invention-other forms will be presently described. The axial length of member C is less than that of the collet and, in service position, preferably has its ends lying intermediate the ends of the collet, thus exposing the nose end of the collet. Since the nose piece overlies and is in contact with the tapered face 3Q of the collet, its bore is also of tapered characteristic, the wall 34 of the bore presenting the taper rate values of the tapered face of the collet, and may be, as presently explained, of the two-step type; the continuity of the tapered face 34 may be interrupted by an annular recessed zone 35, located approximately midway of the length of the member, for a purpose presently explained. The nose-piece end of larger bore provides a skirt zone, the periphery of which, indicated at 36, is designed to co-operate with face 21 of the shank skirt, and hence is of uniform diameter and capable of ready machining. Since the outer face 36 and inner face 34 are not parallel, the skirt Zone of member C is of wedging characteristic, with its thinnest radial section of wall located at such larger end of the tapered bore.

In this as well as in many other forms of nosepiece the skirt zone is slotted longitudinally, as at 31, the slots extending inwardly from the thin end of the skirt zone. This permits a slight flexing action of the skirt, making it possible to provide face 36 as of a less close iit with face 21, thus enabling freer insertion of the skirt zone into the space between face 21 of the shank skirt, and the tapered face of the collet; since, as indicated in Figure 1, the nose-piece skirt is positioned over a zone of increasing thickness of the collet with the zone located where the collet thickness is considerable, it can be understood that as the nose piece is advanced, its skirt zone can and would be sprung outwardly, a condition which will bring the face 36 into a mating relation with face 21, the springing action being provided by the less resistance of the relatively thin nose piece skirt zone to yield than the heavier zone of the collet formation with which the skirt zone is in contact. Hence, the periphery of the nose piece skirt may be of a sufficiently loose nt with respect to the shank skirt as to permit freer introduction of the nose piece skirt into the shank skirt with the springing of the nose piece skirt gradually tightening face 36 on to face 21 as the nose piece is advanced until the faces reach complete annular contact, after which further advance of the nose piece applies asoma? the entire .resistance Lof 'the slirt applied :lock mut :as ropposing .further skirt expansion, with the tapering Lfaces then ico-operating to .apply the pressure needed to collapse .the collet.

ln other Words, .the advance 'o'f fthe .nose piece gradually zplaces between the :shank :skirt and the periphery of the collet, a Ymember-#the nose piece Vskirt-which :serves 'as a substantially solid abutment between the shank skirt and the collet such that advance of `the abutment `produces Ia We'dging action 'directly feiiectve 'on the portion o'i thevcollet of :heavier Across-section, Sand since the Jlatter is afieldable because of the rcollet islotting, #collapsing action onitl'iis zone of th'e A'collet is had; since the opposite fend'o'f the vcollet .is z:of the smaller cross-section, *the wall of the Acorrespondingend oi 1.the :nose piece has suflicient :resistance to provide the collapsing effect on -the nose zonefo' iefcollet.

4For the purpose of applying the .pressure tofad- Vance the vnose piece, the latter Acarries Vvan V'externa'l annular shoulder 38 having a face 39 adapted tto be fengaged 'by the locknut :D :as .presently described. Face 38 may `be .conical 4tor sphericalin either case, the Adevelopment .or the face 'is based 'upon the =trueraxis o'f the nose piece bore with .'such :axissassumedly -alined 'with the shank axis. Since .face 121 Tis accurately formed concentric with .respect Cto fthe shank axis, and the nose-.piece skirt is provided on 'the :basis of a mating relationship with bcth face K27| :and 'the tapered face fof the c'ollet, and with close Atolerences-1in manufacture, :itus apparent that fas rthe nose-piece advances, mating :faces 36 and '.2 `will force a Icollapsing .of th'e -'b'as'e Jen'd zone -roi fthe collet in such :manner :as to vbring th'e axis ofthe zone into aline'ment with fthe shank axis; and since such advance ofi-the .nose piece .is also rapplying pressure ion .the collet longitudinally through the 'cooperating mating tapered ."fa'ces, such flatter pressure 'will be exerted inthe :direction of 'advancing the :collet fas '.WeIl. Hence, should Tthere -Ib'e fany "cockirfg trend Lof the l collet, such advancing .pressure fon the :collet will vcause a rocking movement of the collet to bring faces E8 and .32 .'in'to their mating relationship, thus swinging -the .nose Vend of the Tcollet to placelits axis finto .the aline'd 'relationship with ithe shank axis.

rEne locknut D lis fformed 'and .dim'ens'ioned to bethrea'dedto the threaded zone 21* o'f'thefshank skirt, the inut having linternalithreads 4D 'for this purpose, 'the threadzone extending inward if rom one endfci .thefnutibore a suitabledistance, the bore'extending fbeyondlsuchfzone'iwth the opposite end of l'thenut`iprovided with an :inwardly extending flange vll with the 'inner 'face fof the flangepreferablyfformediconical,as at 42. 'The outer periphery of`the`nut is shaped in either 'of a Inumber of .wellknown forms to permittoolior other power rotation ofthe .nut-Wrench, spanner or power camming 'vvillf illustratethus =pro vidingfthe power neededfior collapsing'the'c'llet bythe threading iaction. "Face 4'2 is designed to zo-'operate with'face 39=`of 'th'einose piece fto advance the nose .piece lto Lpro'duc'e "the collet-col lapsin'g action.

Thevcompletedassembly is'shown 'inEigure 11V in which theparts are :assumed ltoihave been moi/fed to the service fclement :gripping :position :by threading-of the hut, A'the :nose :piece i-skirt Alying in imating `relation to `both KAthe -face 21of =the shank skirt jand th'e tapered face-:of Itheicollet, with .the .collet -collapsed suiciently 'to :provide thelelement gripping result. As lis apparent, the assembly within :the :shank skirt zone A.thus provides :a 'complete 'and .substantially solid radiafl support for the zgripped element with thesupporlt such fas to place the .collet under pressure lstress suicient to produce the desired gripping friction between the collet 1and the element, and to provide the .power drive from the .power source via the shank and 'its skirt, through this solid .support, to the service element, although thedrfiving relation :between the-elements from the shank skirt to the element is entirely frictional.

vAs will be understood, the Vco-operative relation between faces 42 and 39 presents fan Ylim-- portant feature in Iconnection with the alining of the collet-axis withthe chuck axis. Assuming the face 139 rto be based upon the true axis-of the nose @piece it is apparent that if the members are of accurate dimensions and Aform and properly positioned, the Contact between these A'faces be fcompletely annular from the initial contact; should there be variations in manufacture within tolerance limitations, the initial'contac't may not becompletely annular and thus *present Vunequal advancing pressure applications by the -locknut, causing adjusting in position Aof one orthe other element lin the eort toY equalize 'the Ypressure conditions. 'Such adjustments aectthecollet,-even to the extent of slightly shifting the collet face lf2 on face 25E-but the Vadjustments will-all tend in the direction of correctly `alining the collet axis. This is especially true Where vface-39 is Aolf the spherical type--co-operating with fthe 'conical face 42, the contact willbe in the form of an annular line v'so that incomplete contaotdue to variations will be instantly made manifest, 'and the adjustments 4began and completed with definite accuracy; with the conical form o`f face 39 the detection may be by either the inner or 'outer limits of the contactlzone and vary the'pressure application -to this extent, `but completion of 'the uniform annular -pressure will position the 'collet in the alined position, although the contact of faces42 and 39 is then in the Viorm of an annularband -instead lof iline.

In other words, the `alining of the collet axis with the shank axis, when the assembly lneeds alining activities, involves three general activities, one of these placesthefcollet axisin definite relationship -to `the vshank axis-alined with 'or parallel to the shank axis, this "is provide'd'by'the mating faces 23 and 32. Another vactivity'provides the advancing movement 'and aids in locating thecollet axis in alinement with the shank axis-the function 'of'faces `42 and 39. The third4 activity results from the 'co-operation of face 21 with the outer 'periphery '36 of the nose'piece skirt, the importance of which lies .in the "fact that face 21 is a part of the shank `an'd'is based on the'shank axis, and lacts'to substantially centerthisend'of the'c'ollet on the shank axis during :the locking activities of the assembly and in substantially alined 'axial relationship; equalizingof-the-pressure conditions as above described assures the alinement of the nose zone end `uf the collet.

These activities may 'take place vconcurrently orindividuallybut;collectivelyfthey'assure alinement ofthe colletlax'is 'with the-axis of the shank within very tsmall `or slight limits. The latter will dependlsomewhat upon the selectionsof the elements in :presence of :the 'tolerance `conditions set :up runder iquantty .production methodsif the selection assembles completely accurate members, the alinement -will :be .completelyfaccurate, with the greatest variance therefrom presented through selection of members having maximum tolerance conditions.

As is apparent, the assembly in its locked condition, will have the nose piece skirt wedged tightly between the shank skirt and the collet With the latter exerting pressure to maintain this status. Hence, when the locking nut is unthreaded the pressure of the collet would tend to maintain the wedged condition. To assure release of the nose piece, a releasing spring 43 (Figure 2) may be utilized. This spring is located in the recess 35 of the nose piece; since it is exposed with respect to the tapered face of the collet, the latter is provided with an annular recess 44, the bottom of which is parallel with the Collet axis, thus causing such recess i4 bottom to extend from the tapered face at one edge of the recess to a shoulder 44a at the opposite edge; the width of the recess 44 is less than that of the recess 35. Hence, when the nose piece is advanced sunicient to place the advance end of the spring in contact with shoulder 44a, further advance of the nose piece compresses the spring and provides a pressure value sufficient to shift the nose piece to release the skirt of the latter upon release of the lock-nut. The spring may perform an additional function dependent upon whether or not the face 32 of the collet is in actual and proper contact with face 28; if these faces are not in contact, the advance coil of the spring will contact shoulder 4A!a earlier, in which case the power produced by compression of the spring is exerted on shoulder Mato aid the friction between the tapered faces in advancing the collet to set up the mating relationship Aof faces 32 and 28.

In practice, the shank. collet and lock nut, are of generally uniform types, excepting possibly as to dimensions; however. the nose pieceis variable, a number of forms being usable in the assembly. A number of such forms are disclosed herein, and each generally in corrrnon with the form shown in Figures 1 and 2, presents `one fundamental characteristic that is generally com-' mon to all, viz: uniform expansion atl the skj'rt of the nose piece achieved with a minimumiof collet deformation and its proportional loss YofA gripping power; in other words, the nose piece" skirt is fashioned in such way that it can be brought into substantially mating relation Withl face 2l without applying suiicient pressure on the corresponding end i the collet such as would cause gripping action on the service element limited to such end zone of the collet-in the latter case the gripping power would be limited to such Zone, whereas the assembly' is designed to provide for gripping power approximately throughout the length of the collet. as indicated by the particular form of the collet slotting.

trance of the skirt into the shank recess While permitting the above fundamental to be active, the heavy cross-section of this end of the collet providing sucient resistance to produce the latter eiect. With this form tolerances must be the nose piece.

small; if the slots were omitted, no tolerances could be permitted, and the outer diameter of the skirt would need to equal the diameter of face 21 to provide the mating relation between faces 36 and 21, making advance of the nose piece into and within the chuck recess of such diiculty as to render the structure difficult for service.

Figure 4 presents the nose piece as of general configuration similar to Figure 3, but the length of the slots has been suiciently increased as to extend beyond the zone of flange shoulder 38, thus increasing the elasticity of the skirt zone. While this includes shoulder 38 as within the slotted area, this fact does not materially affect the shoulder service, since the shoulder is located in a zone where the flexing is so small as to be negligible in view of the fact that the annular form of the shoulder would cause face 39 to properly function despite the presence of the slots. In some forms of assembly, it is possible that the slotting of the nose piece can, as with the collet, extend from opposite ends of. the nose piece.

The selection as to the length of the slots is dependent upon the allowance made betweenl the inner diameter of face 21 and the outer diameter of face 36 in fashioning these parts, and thus bears upon the amount of tolerance to be permitted in the construction of the parts, increase in the length of the slots permitting` larger tolerances, the increase in elasticity provided by the longer slots substantially compenv ner cross section adjacent the Zone of shoulder'V 38. This is provided by an annular groove, angular in cross-section, on .the outer face of the skirt and a second annular groove on the inner or bore face of the skirt, these grooves being displaced sufliciently to provide a thin-wall zone 45l within the skirt with the wall extending angular to the axis as Well Yas the taper face of The slots extend across this thin-wall zone. Figures 5 and 6 present the thin wallas extending at opposite angles.

As is apparent, the thin-wall zone permits greater elasticity of that portion of the skirt which generally provides the wedging section of the skirt. One advantage of this is the fact that the zone will assure that the face 35 of the skirt will mate with face 2l in the service positions of the parts throughout the length of the overvlapping zones of the skirts (shank and nose piece) thus adding to the precision development; absence of this thin-wall zone, as in Figure 3, may decrease the length of the mating zone, due to the lower degree of elasticity and thereby restrict tbe resistance active zone provided by face 2'! vand thus reduce the length of the resistance zone to a slight extent but without material loss\ of the collapsing effect in the assembly, since a substantially complete annular contact with face 2l is present.

Figure 7 illustrates the application of this thinl Y .kerfs 46 are substituted for the angular form of `vthe grooves, the depth of the kerfs being normal" Annular `annue? 1l to the axis of the nose piece, the twokerfs being displaced to provide the thin wall section between them. The formation is shown as applied in the Figure 1 position, but may obviously be applied in the positions of Figures 5 and 6.

While each of these forms presents the face 39 as conical, it is to be understood that said face may be of the spherical type as previously explained.

With the structures disclosed in Figures 5 to 8, it is preferred that the outer diameter of the skirt of the nose piecelbe equal to or slightly greater than the diameter of face 21 of. the chuck shank. The elasticity of the skirt produced through the presence of the thin-wall zone is increased thereby Vsufficiently to Ypermit the slight nose-piece skirt collapsing necessary,l if the-skirt is oversize in thisrespect, to permit the skirt to enter into the shankrecess, only a slight pressure being needed to Yproduce this 'eiect Such arrangement produces the advantage that the mating contact between faces 36 and- 2 will extend throughout the overlapped length of these faces-even though the skirt is slotted; .the larger completely-mated zone assures a'longer fixed resistance length to the skirt'and thus assures the more positive collapsing pressure uponthe collet within this zone, since the pressure is uniformly developed. The oversize condition will not materially increase the friction'between faces 36 and 21 due to the skirt elasticity; hence, the advance of the skirt during the locking activity is not materially affected by this change, the friction development being due tothe value of the collet resistance to collapsing within the zonein either case. Since face 21, is accurately concentric to the axis of the shank, the increased length of completely-mated contact therewith by face 36 will obviously improve the precision effects produced without affecting or increasing the collet distortion.

In the forms which include theV thin-walled zone, it is preferred to utilize a different means (presently described in detail) for releasing the nose-piece from its skirt-wedged condition upon unthreading the lockinginut. Since the production of the thin-walled. zone provides a recessed effect on the tapered bore of the nose-piece, it is preferred to omit the recess therefrom, and hence a dierent arrangement for releasing. the nose-piece from that disclosed in Figures I and 2 is Provided.

While the forms of nose piece shown in Figures 5 to 8 provide for elasticity sufficient to permit the use of an oversize skirt and the complete mating relation between faces 35 and 2.1,' the amount of oversize should be limited, due to the fact that the radial thickness of the skirt controls the amount of the collet collapsing in such zone-if the thickness is excessive, the collapsing will be increased and could possibly exceed that applied Vto the nose end' zone of the collet, a condition which could affect the collet gripping of the service element,V thusproviding a zonal effect rather than a distributed effect, the activegrippingzone in such case being at. the inner end of the collet. On the other hand the amountof expansion 0f the skirt of Figures 1, 3. and., 4, for instance, and in. which the skirt is slightly expanded to. provide the Contact. between faces 36 and 21, should also be limited since excessive expansion could provide insulcient collapsing of the collet at such end and with the result that the collet gripping would become zonal but with the. active zone found at the nose end zone of the collet. If a zonal gripping contact is desired, these facts can indicate the way in which a desired gripping contact can be secured. However, the preferred arrangement is one in which thegripping contact is distributed throughout the length of the collet, and since faces 21, 28, 32 and' 36, can. be readily machine provided on the basis of close tolerances, it is possible to produce aprecision effect and distributed gripping action in either of the forms; with close tolerances, the engineer is able to design the dimensions of his theoretical. product to meet individual conditions and produce the type of gripping action'desired by controlling the amount of diierence between the diameter of face and the diameter of face 21-the closer the fit bctween these faces the less will be the collet deformation and loss of gripping power.

'Figure 9 presents another form of nose piece and assemblage, this being more complicated than the forms previously described. In this form the face 39 of the nose piece extends in a plane perpendicular to the nose-piece axis, as at39a, the characteristicsof face 39 being provided by a stress relief ring 41 having a planar face on one side-to co-cperate with face 398- the opposite side having a spherical characteristie-cooperative with face 42. Since the ,ring can oat over face 39a during the locking operation, it is apparent that the assemblage is able to correct itself by virtue of a continuous line of contacty between the locknut face 42 and the spherical face of the ring regardless of the alinement of, the locknut axis. The advantage of this form lies. in the fact that. distortion from twist is greatly decreased, as well as distortion due4 to.

misalinement of locknut and nose-piece. With thisform the face 42 needs be conicalor spherical. Inother respects, the none-piece is shown as'of the type of Figure 5, but. could be the Figure 6 form.

Figure 9 also discloses the alternative form of nose piece release means, groove. 35, recess 44 and spring 43 being omitted, thus leaving the tapered face of the collet uninterrupted. As a substitute, the inner face of the body of the lock nut beyond the thread zone is provided with an annular recess 48 to receive a split ring 49 (see also Figures 11 and lla) of a sufciently greater radial cross-sectional thickness than the depth of recess 48 as to provide an inwardly extending shoulder located between the end of the shank skirt, and the Vfiange shoulder 38; the ring is suiciently elastic to permit readyv entrance into thelock-nutrover. the thread zone of the latter and-be. seated within recess 43, being positioned inthe lock-nut. after the nose piece has been located-Within the lock-nut prior to the threading of the locknut onto the shank shirt thread zone. The ring shoulder is inactive during the' advancing threading of the lock-nut-face 42' is active during this period; when, however, the lock-nut is rotated during the unthreeding operation, such rotation brings the ring shoulder into engagement with shoulder 3S whereupon further unthreading action applies pressure to shoulder 38- to withdraw the nose-piece skirt from its wedged position between faces 32 and Z7. As heretofore indicated, this form is preferably utilized i'n all structures of nose-piece having the' thin-wall section. This form of' release means lacks the function of also advancing the collet.

that is present in the form shown in Figures l and 2.

Figures 10 to 12 illustrate a still further modication of the assembly and more particularly of the nose piece, the principal distinction being in connection with the tapered bore face of the nose piece, the latter otherwise being of the general type of Figure 5, but which would also be usable with the Figure 6 form, the assembly including the stress release ring 49 previously referred to as employed with the nose piece structures having the thin-walled zone, the underlying purpose being to produce a twostep effect in connection with the bore face, and is particularly adapted for service under assembly conditions where the collet is initially inserted a distance insuflicient to seat it against the shank, the subsequent advance of the nose piece completing the collet advance to its final position.

The effect can be produced either by grinding the bore face with two steps, with both steps having equal taper rates, but with the skirt step having a reduced diameter as compared with a continuation of the taper of the opposite end of the bore; in such case the skirt outer diameter would equal or slightly exceed the inner diameter of the face 21 of the shank, as before explained. An alternate way of producing the eiect would be to have the bore taper continuous from end to end (excepting for the thinwalled zone), thus simulating the showing of Figure 5, and then producing the desired twostep effect by making the outer diameter of the skirt (face 36) oversizethe thin-wall zone will permit the necessary collapse of the skirt to enter the basin of the shank skirt; due to the oversize such collapse of the skirt will carry the skirt zone inward without affecting the opposite end zone, thus producing the two-step effect.

In practice, with the collet advanced to a position approaching face 28, the nose piece skirt is entered into the wedging zone and the nose piece advanced until the tapered bore of the nose piece skirt contacts the tapered face of the collet. Further advance of the nose piece will then advance the collet until face 32 mates with face 28 and ends the advance of the collet-during this advance there is no collapsing of the collet, the latter action beginning when the mating relation of faces 32 and 23 is established; the advance of the nose piece will also bring the taper face of the opposite end into contact with the tapered face of the collet (the step values being such as to produce this result), so that when the mating of faces 32 and 28 has been cornpleted, the complete tapered face of the nose piece is made active on the collet to collapse the latter.

As is apparent, should the face 32 of the collet be out of contact with face 28-as indicated for instance in Figure lil-during the assembly of the chuck, the assembly development will produce a series of activities having denite value in the alining of the collet and shank axes. With the nose-piece within the lock-nut and both disengaged, the skirt of the nose-piece can be collapsed suiciently to enter the shank skirt, and then advanced until the opposing tapering faces contact, an action which will tend to correct a cocked collet by the action of setting up a mating relation between the collet and the nose piece skirt, the nose end of the collet being out of contact with the nose piece-and at the same time substantially aline the axis of this end of the collet with the axis of the shank, due to the contact of faces 36 and 21 with the latter accurately concentric with the shank axis; the lock-nut will have reached a threaded connection status with threads 21a; cooking of the collet is not necessarily completely removed by such action due to the presence of the thinwalled zone so that the nose end of the nose piece could slightly vary from a true axial alinement. As threading of the locknut continues such embryo assembly advances bodily until face 32 contacts face 23-should such contact indicate the presence of cocking of the collet, the further threading of the lock-nut will force mating of faces 32 and 28, eliminate the cocked condition, and place the collet axis in alinement with the shank axis. And since the nose end of the nose piece will have also advanced sufciently to bring the -bore taper of this end into contact with the collet taper face, the mating of faces 32 and 28 will prepare the assembly for the collet collapsing action by the continued advance of the lock-nut, with the bore taper of the nose end of the nose-piece positioned in mating relation to the collet taper face-thus axially alining the axis of the nose-piece with that of the alined collet and shank axes, faces 39 and 42 serving to produce a similar condition with respect to the lock-nut.

This detail explanation makes clear one condition that is a fundamental of the present invention, viz.: that, in reality, the nose-piece is actually alined by the collet through the mating of faces 3-2 and 28, although the co-operation of faces 3S and 21 positions one end of the collet axis in its alined relation to the shank axis. This condition is present in the forms presenting the thin-walled zone, and also with the remaining .forms in which the active length of contact of faces 36 and 21 is more limited in the direction of length of the chuck axis.

Among the advantages of this particular form are the following: Limited length of contact of the tapered faces of collet and nose-piece during the approach of the collet to its final position and prior to mating of faces 32 and 28; this leaves the nose ends of collet and nose piece with greater freedom for relative adjustments during the period-although the skirt of the nose piece is in mating relation with face 21, the thin-wall section permits the nose ends the freer adjustability. The collet is not subjected to collapsing pressure during such period, and since the tapering faces are brought into com-- plete contact concurrently with the mating of faces 32 and 28-produced by the advance of the nose-piece tapered face-the collapsing pressures on the collet are equally-effective over the length of overlap of the tapered faces thus providing for uniform collapsing of the collet, with the pressures applied to a collet having its axis alined with the shank axis, producing distributed and uniform gripping action, thus limiting collapsing pressure on the collet to periods when faces 32 and 28 are mated and the chuck members have become substantially alined axially.

The advantages accruing from the use of the assembly in the varied forms shown have been indicated above as the individual forms have been described. In addition, the particular arrangement of the assemblage as an entirety precents the fundamentals above referred to. The members are of such form as to be readily provduced under quantity-production methods, including tolerances, the critical co-operating faces l5 being so arranged that they can be readily produced under close tolerance conditions, thus not only permitting comparatively low-cost production, but doing so with the possibilities of pr on service conditions of a. high order. Another advantage lies in. the fact that the chuck is placed in locked condition by movements of the members (excepting the lock nut) limited to theV direction of length of the chuck axis, so that noA twisting effects on members is set up during the movements to the locked position, While the collet-collapsing is wholly by radial pressures-with the nose piece and the collet both slotted, in the direction of the member axis, twisting during the period could produce undesired effects; while the lock-nut is rotative, faces 42 and 39 prevent the rotary movement being carried to the nose-piece.

In thel above description of the invention and its; detaii characteristics, the description has been based upon what are deemed preferred forms of the invent-ion, but without attempting to indicate variations therefrom and which are also deemed to be within the invention, but which involve certain changes or modifications from the preferred forms; these will now be set forth in detail:

At the outset, it isto, :be noted that while the shank has herein been referred to as being driven and rotatable, the invention is in such form as to parallel usual chuck service, in that it is capable of use either as a rotating or drive assemblage or as a stationary assemblage with the work sewing as the rotative source co-operative with the chuck and its carried element. If the shank be held stationary the latter condition becomes operative. Hence, both types of operation are contemplated by and deemed to be within the invention.

One of the possible variations is that of the omission of a specific automatic nose-piece release formation-the spring 43 of Figure 2 or the element te of Figure 11; these are desirable and preferred for the purpose of withdrawing the skirt of the nose-piece from its wedged position.

VHoweverx it is apparent that where the taper angle between the collet and the nose-piece is sufficiently large, the stored energy of the collapsed collet will be suicient to provide such withdrawal, in which case the preferred withdrawal means-including recesses and 4:1- could be omitted. Such variation, including the omission of the preferred means is contemplated by and is deemed to be within the present invention.

Another of the possible variations is that of omitting the slotting of the nose piece. It is possible, due to the specific form and location of face 2 of the shank skirt and face 36 of the nose piece, that accurate workmanship in the production of these faces would provide a suficiently close fit of these faces and yet permit ready assembly, so that no material outward yield of nose piece skirt portions would be needed to provide the desired resistance needed for collapsing the collet, or that the end zone of the skirt of the nose piece be made suflciently thin that any slight expansion required can be secured by annular stretching provided by the resistance of the coll-.et during collapsing of the latter. Where the use is such as to permit such solution or solutions, the slots 31 may be omitted-and such omission is contemplated by and is deemed to be within the present invention.

Another obvious variation, which contemplates the omission of the automatic withdrawal means having its outer longitudinal surface taperedl 16 is that of first removing locknut D and then withdrawing the nose piece by the use of a lever or an air cylinder or other power means of wellknown form. Such variation is contemplated by and is deemed to be Within the invention.

While I have herein shown and described a number ofY forms and ways in which the invention may be produced and placed in service, it is apparent that changes and modifications in one or more of the members of the assembly may be found desirable or essential in meeting the various exigencies of use and the desires of users, and I reserve the right to make any and all such changes and/or modifications as may be found desirable or essential, insofar as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims, when broadly construed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A chuck having a shank provided with a cylindrical wall extending inwardly from one end concentric with its longitudinal axis, and a shoulder spaced from said end and crossing said axis to provide a cylindrical recess concentric with the longitudinal axis of the shank and having a flat bottom at right angles to said axis, a tubular collet extending into said recess and having a fiat inner end seated against said shoulder to maintain axial alinement of said collet with said shank and having its outer longitudinal surface tapered with the larger end adjacent said shoulder, a. nose piece having a portion wedged between and fitting said wall and said outer surface to center the collet in said shank by engagement of said nose piece with said Wall, and a clamping ring adjustably mounted on said shank adjacent said end and overlapping a part of said nose piece and exerting pressure to hold said collet in axially alined engagement with said shank and said nose u piece against said wall, respectively.

2. A chuck having a shank provided with a cylindrical wall extending inwardly from one end concentrically with its longitudinal axis and a shoulder spaced from said end and crossing said axis to provide a cylindrical recess concentric with the longitudinal axis of said shank and having a flat bottom at right angles to said axis, a tubular collet extending into said recess and having a dat inner end seated against said shoulder to maintain axial alinement of said collet with said shank and having its outer longitudinal surface tapered with the larger end thereof adjacent said shoulder, a nose piece having a portion wedged between and fitting said wall and said outer surface to center the collet in said shank by engagement of said nose piece with said wall and terminating forwardly of the inner end of said collet, and a clamping ring adjustably mounted on said shank adjacent said end and overlapping a part of said nose piece and exerting pressure to hold the collet in abutting axially alined engagement with said shank and said nose piece in centering relation with said shank, respectively, said nose piece having its inner surface tapered to engage the outer surface of said collet and its outer surface where it engages said shank provided with a truly cylindrical portion fitting the cylindrical wall of said shank recess.

3. A chuck having a shank provided with a cylindrical wall extending inwardly from one end concentric with its longitudinal axis, and a shoul-v der spaced from saidl end and crossing said axis to provide a recess, a tubular collet extending into the recess and seated against said shoulder with the larger end thereof adjacent said shoulder, a nose-piece having a portion wedged be- -tw'een and fitting said wall and said outer surpush the collet with the nose-piece away from said shoulder upon loosening of the clamping ring.

l4. A chuck having a shank provided with a cylindrical wall extending inwardly from one end concentric with its longitudinal axis, and a shoulder spaced from said end and crossing said axis to provide a recess, a tubular collet extended into the recess and seated against said shoulder having its outer longitudinal surface tapered with the larger end thereof adjacent said shoulder, a nose-piece having a portion wedged between and fitting said wall and said outer surface, and a clamping ring adjustably mounted on said shank adjacent said end and overlapping a part of said nose-piece, said nose-piece intermediate its ends and beyond the portion engaging said wall being reduced in thickness throughout its wall area to increase the elasticity of the nosepiece to enable shortening under clamping pressure.

5. A chuck having a shank provided with a cylindrical wall extending inwardly from one end concentric with its longitudinal axis, and a shoulder spaced from said end and crossing said axis` to provide a cylindrical recess concentric with the longitudinal axis of said shank and having a flat bottom at right angles to said axis, a tubular collet extended into the recess and having a flat inner end seated against said shoulder to maintain said axial alinement of said collet with said shank and having its outer longitudinal surface tapered with the larger end thereof adjacent said shoulder, a nose-piece having a portion wedged between and fitting said wall and said outer surface to center the collet in said shank :by engagement of said nose-piece with said wall, and a clamping ring adjustably mounted on said shank adjacent said end and overlapping a part of said nose-piece and exerting pressure to hold said collet in abutting engagement with said shank and said nose-piece against said wall, respectively, said nose-piece having a shoulder overlapped on one side by the clamping-ring, said nose-piece also having a part thereon overlapping the other side of said ring to cause the nose-piece to move in opposite directions with the clamping ring.

6. A chuck having a shank provided with a cylindrical wall extending inwardly from one end concentric with its longitudinal axis, and a shoulder spaced from said end and crossing said axis to provide a recess, a tubular collet extended into the recess and seated against said shoulder having its outer longitudinal surface tapered with the larger end thereof adjacent said shoulder, a nose-piece having a portion wedged between and fitting said wall and said outer surface, and a. clamping ring adjustably mounted on said shankv adjacent said end and overlapping a part of said nose-piece, said clamping ring having an internal annular groove and a ring mounted therein and overlapping the other side of said nose-piece.

7. A chuck having a shank provided with a cylindrical wall extending inwardly from one end concentric with its longitudinal axis, and a shoulder spaced from said end and crossing said axis to provide a recess, a tubular collet extended into the recess and seated against said shoulder having its outer longitudinal surface tapered with the larger end thereof adjacent said shoulder, a nose-piece having a portion wedged between and fitting said wall and said outer surface, and a clamping ring adjustably mounted on said shank adjacent said end and overlapping a part of said nose-piece, said nose-piece having a shoulder overlapped on one side by the clamping-ring, said nose-piece also having a part thereon overlapping the other side Iof said ring to cause the nose-piece to move in opposite directions with the clamping ring, said nose-piece having a relatively elastic portion intermediate its ends to enable shortening under clamping pressure, and said collet at its larger end having its bore enlarged to minimize collapsing pressure.

8. A chuck having a shank provided with a cylindrical wall extending inwardly from one end concentric with its longitudinal axis, and a shoulder spaced from said end and crossing said axis to provide a recess, a tubular collet extended into the recess and seated against said shoulder having its outer longitudinal surface tapered with the larger end thereof adjacent said shoulder, a nose-piece having a portion wedged between and fitting said wall and said outer surface, and a clamping ring adjustably mounted on said shank adjacent said end and overlapping a part of said nose-piece, the facing surfaces of the collet and nose-piece collectively having an annular groove and shoulders, and a tension spring disposed in said groove and engaging said shoulders.

9. A chuck having a shank provided with a cylindrical wall extending inwardly from one end concentric with its longitudinal axis, and a shoulder spaced from said end and crossing said axis to provide a recess, a tubular collet extended into the recess and seated against said shoulder having its outer longitudinal surface tapered with the larger end thereof adjacent said shoulder, a nose-piece having a portion wedged between and fitting said wall and said outer surface, a clamping ring adjustably mounted on said shank adjacent said end and overlapping a part of said nose-piece, and a stress relief ring interposed between the clamping ring and nose-piece at the zone of overlapping of said ring and nosepiece.

CHARLES E. DREW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 533,733 Nye Feb. 5, 1895 611,159 Webb Sept. 20, 1898 642,235 Knape Jan. 30, 1900 1,714,136 Probert et al. May 21, 1929 1,953,830 Park Apr. 3, 1934 2,337,471 Hines Dec. 21, 1943 2,358,299 Benjamin et al. Sept. 19, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 46,263 Norway June 5, 1926 295,908 Great Britain Aug. 23, 1928 

